Local Couple To Discuss Art, Community Pride And Life

November 20, 2013

Lutheran and the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation are proud to introduce a new series highlighting local community members. Hosted by Greg Peterson, the debut of "Edgewood Communities Presents ..." will feature Ken and Lois Strickler.

"Edgewood Communities Presents ..." will take place Tuesday, Dec. 3, at the Juliet J. Rosch Activities Center on the Edgewood Communities campus. A reception will be held at 6:30 p.m., and light refreshments will be served. The program will begin at 7 p.m. followed by a question-and-answer session.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Strickler has been heavily involved in local business, civic and community organizations. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh and working as a sales representative for the Royal Typewriter Company, he started his own business, Ken Strickler Inc., in Jamestown. There, he sold and serviced office machinery until 1976. In addition to being a founding member of Jamestown Savings Bank, Strickler is also a founding member of the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and served as the foundation's first president of the Board of Directors.

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Ken and Lois Strickler, Edgewood Community residents, will be the first guests of “Edgewood Community Presents …” a new interview series featuring local community members.

Strickler has been instrumental in the success of a number of fundraising initiatives in the area, including rebuilding the Reg Lenna Civic Center, campaigning for the United Way and building the Lakewood Memorial Library.

His wife, Lois, also a Pittsburgh native, graduated from Carnegie Institute of Technology - now Carnegie Mellon University - with a bachelor's degree of fine arts in painting and design. She worked as an elementary and high school art teacher in the Jamestown and Panama school districts. Her art has been on display at Chautauqua Institution, the Lakewood Library, YWCA, Prendergast Library and has been the focal point of a number of private collector shows.

Mrs. Strickler served on the development board of Jamestown Community College's Weeks Gallery and continues to serve as an advisory committee member. Her friendship with artist Andy Warhol inspired her to donate a print of Warhol's well-known Marilyn print to the gallery.

The public is welcome to attend the free event and listen to the Stricklers speak first-hand about their passions and their past. Reservations may be made by calling Edgewood Communities at 665-8197 by Monday, Dec. 2.

For more information on the event, contact the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation at 661-3390.